Working in the USA - MBA required?
Discussion
If someone from the UK had the opportunity to look for permanent work in the US (in a general business field - business development, management, etc.) would they be expected to have a qualification above the level of a general degree - a masters, MBA, etc.? Assuming they would be competing with US citizens with a "bachelors" and a degree from "graduate school". Would a single degree from a UK institution be looked upon less favourably?
It won't be that simple of course. Many factors are used in the equation of selecting personnel for roles, but they can be simplified in to 3 basic questions: can you do the job; will you love doing the job; and will you fit in to the organisation. Qualifications, whilst often important, are secondary to this universal selection criteria. Good luck!
P.S. The reputation of MBAs has taken a bit of a battering as a result of the current world financial crisis so I wouldn't worry too much.
P.S. The reputation of MBAs has taken a bit of a battering as a result of the current world financial crisis so I wouldn't worry too much.
I'd get this moved into the US forum by one of the mods, if I was you; plenty of people there who have gone through the process and understand it well.
I've a BEng, and I'm a US resident.
The 3 main ways of getting a US visa are:
1). Money; various investor/entrepreneur visas available.
2). Marriage; easiest option.
3). Work; need to work for a US company in the UK for at least a year, then you can transfer out there on a company sponsored L1/L1-B visa. There's also the H1-B visa for getting employed by a US company without prior employment by that company in the UK.
I'm sure there are others, but those are the most common.
My take - an MBA will help in justifying the initial visa petition and in a subsequent residency application, it will also put you in a higher category of employee for a residency (EC2 instead of EC3, iirc), so that application will be processed faster that someone with a batchelors degree only - however it is not a guarantee of success, nor is not having one a guarantee of failure.
As for actually gaining employment in the first place, in my experience degrees are roughly translatable - a UK 3 year degree is equivalent to a US 3 year degree; if you're the right candidate, you'll get hired.
I've a BEng, and I'm a US resident.
The 3 main ways of getting a US visa are:
1). Money; various investor/entrepreneur visas available.
2). Marriage; easiest option.
3). Work; need to work for a US company in the UK for at least a year, then you can transfer out there on a company sponsored L1/L1-B visa. There's also the H1-B visa for getting employed by a US company without prior employment by that company in the UK.
I'm sure there are others, but those are the most common.
My take - an MBA will help in justifying the initial visa petition and in a subsequent residency application, it will also put you in a higher category of employee for a residency (EC2 instead of EC3, iirc), so that application will be processed faster that someone with a batchelors degree only - however it is not a guarantee of success, nor is not having one a guarantee of failure.
As for actually gaining employment in the first place, in my experience degrees are roughly translatable - a UK 3 year degree is equivalent to a US 3 year degree; if you're the right candidate, you'll get hired.
jimmyjimjim said:
As for actually gaining employment in the first place, in my experience degrees are roughly translatable - a UK 3 year degree is equivalent to a US 3 year degree; if you're the right candidate, you'll get hired.
This is my point. I'm assuming (rightly or wrongly?) that US graduates generally have their bachelors and a degree from graduate school. So with only one UK degree, would I be viewed as having not gone to 'graduate school'? i.e. would my qualification be considered lesser?Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff